Concrete structure.



F. Wu ERICKSON.

CO NCRETE STRUCTURE. APPLICATION FILED 050.20.1917.

1 ,26 1 1 09. Patented Apr. 2, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

lalallll F. W. ERICKSON.

CONCRETE STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20. 1911.

1,261,109. Patented Apr. 2, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEE? 2.

liweiwww mm; 24%;;

rannnme WM. narcxson, or new roan, n. Y.

CONCRETE STRUCTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2, 191%.

Application ma December 20, 1917. Serial No. 208,164.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Fnnonnio WM. Enron- SON, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Concrete Structures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relatesto improvements in concrete structures to be immersed in water, such as barges, ships especially constructed to carry freight, so that the hull can be maintained in a watertight condition even though accidents, collisions or shrinkage, cracks in the material may cause leakage at any point. The invention consists of placw ing in the concrete longitudinal ducts ofmetal, wood or paper, which have proper outlets in sump wells in the fore and aft parts of the hull, where provision is made for pumping out any water conveyed thereto by the ducts, each outlet being fitted with an automatic closing valve which permits of ordinary drainage but will close with an inrush of water such as would occur if a duct were filled with water instantaneously, due to a fracture caused by a collision. The walls of the hull having perforations filled with air add to its buoyancy.

Referring to the drawings: 7! v Figure 1 is a plan view of a reinforced barge fitted with my drainage system of ducts;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the foregoing; and

Figs. 3, A and 5 are transverse sections; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are detached details referring to the outletsof the ducts in thesumps and means for pumping out water.

I will now proceed to describe my inven-' tion.

Fig. l is a plan view of a reinforced concrete barge. A is the hull; B, C, D, E, F are bulkheads. Bulk-heads B and C and E and F inclose water sump pits for drainage fore and aft of the entire hull. H represents drain pipes or ducts built into the concrete hull, each onev connecting with the sump pits G, G respectively, by means of outlet valves V. p I

Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal section through the barge, and shows the emplacement of drain ducts H and their outlet valves V, connecting with the sump chambers G and G respectively.

Fig. 3 shows a transverse section A of a.

portion of the hull of a reinforced concrete barge, wherein a single row of ducts H is provided.

Fig. 4 shows a transverse section of a portion of the hull, constructed of a double row of ducts H. I do not limit my invention to a single row of ducts, nor do 1 limit myself to the use of any particular material in makmg the ducts. In practice corrugated sheet iron ducts of circular cross section will be used for small boats. In larger ones, however, these ducts may be constructed of creosoted wood to obtain maximum displacement with minimum weight.

A very strong and light form of construction is shown by Fig. 5. A indicates a cross.

section of a portion of the hull. H indicates the ducts of octagonal cross section. K indicates steel reinforcing rods. L is a metal reinforcin mesh. Both L and K extend continuous y with the ducts.

Fig. 6 I have shown the sump chamber G, in a portion of the hull of the vessel,

'3 and C are transverse bulk-heads inclosing the sump well. H are the longitudinal ducts which connect with the sump chamber by inlet valve --V. D is a power driven pump for extracting the water from the sump chamber through the inlet elbow c to inlet pipe I) through pump 1) to discharge pipe at, and to discharge elbow e, which elbow is connected with the outside of the hull for conveying the water overboard. It is to be noted that the ducts, while serving as water drains, also add to the buoyancy of the hull.

Fig. 7 illustrates in detail a cross section of the drainage valves and connections of the drain ducts to the sump chambers. A

represents a section of the hull, H a section of the duct as set into the concrete. F? is the pipe T which connects duct H with the sump chamber. The T is internally threaded to receive a draining and closing valve constructed as follows: A conical shaped valve head 3 on valve stem 10.is held normally open from valve seat 4 by means of spiral spring 8. The outer end of the valve stem 10 is fitted with a thrust collar 9 secured to the stem by a pin.

A collar 7 is secured to the valve stem by a pin 6 in such a manner as to hold a spring 8 in tension. The valve stem is placed in the bearing of the valve cage 2, allowing freedom to rotate, and to slide in and out according to the pressure of the water erately flowing through The valve cage emitted from the ducts H.

thread 5 to en- 2 is fitted with an exterior gage in the T head F The action of the valve is such that it is normally held in an open position by means of the spring, and any drainage water modthe valve will not cause the valve to close. Instant filling of the duct line with water will close the valve against the pressure of the spring, thereby retarding the passage of the water through same.

I claim as my invention 1. A reinforced concrete marine structure or boat composed of a hull having one or more sump pits, of ducts embedded in the walls of the hull parallel therewith and having outlets provided with valves in the sump pits.

2. A concrete marine structure or boat composed of a hull divided by bulkheads and having one or more sum pits, of ducts embedded in the walls of the hull parallel therewith having outlets provided with automatic valves in thesump pits.

3. A concrete marine structure or boat composed of a hull having one or more sump pits, of ducts embedded in the Walls of the hull parallel with each other and with the walls of the hull, having outlets in the sump pits provided with automatic valves.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 15th day of December, 1917.

FREDERIO WM. ERICKSON.

Witnesses E. A. DUELIN, H. M. TAYLOR. 

